Digging in won't help you much, if there are empty Bases nearby. Allies just can grab them for free. But with control of the seas, you can bombard such landing to dust. You can also make it with Pago-Pago.
Take care in Australia, don't cross the-line-of-death.
In Burma push as far as you can, so enemy would have to reconquer more. Land somewhere behind Akyab, and trap his forces. I'm firm believer, that you can catch Allies in Burma trap: letting his large counterattacking forces into plains around Mandalay, and then surrounding them, and defeating.
Get ready to beat back Allies first counter-invasion. You won't have many chances, before parity in CVs. And get all those green dots! They are free intelligence for enemy!
Caveat:
Don't cross the line of death UNLESS you are going for both Melbourne and Sydney and have the assets in place to do it.
Taking Melbourne will net you a bunch of ARM factories and more importantly really hamstrings the OZ airforce the rest of the war. It isn't so much the model mix, but simply the numbers; losing Melbourne they simply will never have enough numbers to achieve much. Sydney will crush their economy when coupled with Melbourne putting the best units of the Commonwealth on the sideline.
It takes a lot of force to do this pre June '42, like almost all of your free ID's and airgroups. BIG gamble, but BIG reward. If the allied players sees it coming soon enough, he can lay a big trap for you. BUT if he doesn't, oh baby! you can put a world of hurt on him.
Ditto taking Calcutta. Not quite the risk/reward size, but still a big deal. If you can take up to Bombay, sweet. Very, very few have been able to take Karachi/Delhi. If you do though, it almost guarantees a minor victory for IJ. Why? The amount of HI/LI => supply that you will garner will propel you into '44 with a huge economic stockpile. Think something like an extra 4M supply (not literally, but overall yes). That just translates into ARM/VEH/AC numbers that will keep the IJ from being overwhelmed.
Just thought I'd say hello and let you know you haven't been talking to yourself. I'm just getting back in to wit-pae after awhile, and since I'm trying the Japanese side against the AI, reading a Japan player AAR might be a decent thought. So, not a whole lot to offer in terms of advice, as I'm just relearning a few things I (maybe) used to know.
Interesting situation, with the US CVs going to the 'other' side of Oz. I don't know how common that is in PBEM. I've thought about it in games against the AI, but it always seemed risky. Did the LBA ever get a shot at them? Curious as making the run through the strait at Horn Is seems awfully risky? But that means that the only response to a Japan move between Australia and the Aleutians would be a run all the way back via Perth? Unless LBA doesn't bother them and they can take the shortcut?
So, I was thinking about what could be hit on the other side of Oz while they were gone. I'd just watched the (old) movie Midway, so "Point AF" was what came to my mind. But Auckland fits as well. Although, you might want to have a morale officer advise the CV crews that if they want to make a port call, Fiji might be a nicer vacation spot than Auckland. A few pictures of friendly islander girls should do the trick! Did those CV crews get back alive from their past vacation?
Thanks for writing this! It makes a nice read while I'm working my way through the Japan set-up spreadsheet.
Hi Markko, Thanks for the post. Yes i was a bit surprised when the allied CVS ended up in the Indian Ocean. It hurt to lose that CS to them. I really doubt they would try to run the north australia route. I've got a lot of nells/Bettys nearby and enough Zeros to escort them at those ranges.
I still can't believe some of the mistakes i've made. I was really lucky when that CV TF ended up the day at AUckland. I didn't suffer at all except a bruised ego on the forum here. The forum guys are really great. If you need help getting up to speed be sure to ask some questions in the war room or more likely the front page.
Digging in won't help you much, if there are empty Bases nearby. Allies just can grab them for free. But with control of the seas, you can bombard such landing to dust. You can also make it with Pago-Pago.
Take care in Australia, don't cross the-line-of-death.
In Burma push as far as you can, so enemy would have to reconquer more. Land somewhere behind Akyab, and trap his forces. I'm firm believer, that you can catch Allies in Burma trap: letting his large counterattacking forces into plains around Mandalay, and then surrounding them, and defeating.
Get ready to beat back Allies first counter-invasion. You won't have many chances, before parity in CVs. And get all those green dots! They are free intelligence for enemy!
Hi inqistor, I appreciate your comments. I was thinking of the deeper landing in Burma, I wasn't experienced enough to trap them at Rangoon. The opportunity was certainly there but i just couldn't pull it off.
if the counter invasion comes i think i'll be prepared best in the aluetians, marshalls, Fiji. Trying to get ready elsewhere. I'll answer about Australia in response to Pax.
Digging in won't help you much, if there are empty Bases nearby. Allies just can grab them for free. But with control of the seas, you can bombard such landing to dust. You can also make it with Pago-Pago.
Take care in Australia, don't cross the-line-of-death.
In Burma push as far as you can, so enemy would have to reconquer more. Land somewhere behind Akyab, and trap his forces. I'm firm believer, that you can catch Allies in Burma trap: letting his large counterattacking forces into plains around Mandalay, and then surrounding them, and defeating.
Get ready to beat back Allies first counter-invasion. You won't have many chances, before parity in CVs. And get all those green dots! They are free intelligence for enemy!
Caveat:
Don't cross the line of death UNLESS you are going for both Melbourne and Sydney and have the assets in place to do it.
Taking Melbourne will net you a bunch of ARM factories and more importantly really hamstrings the OZ airforce the rest of the war. It isn't so much the model mix, but simply the numbers; losing Melbourne they simply will never have enough numbers to achieve much. Sydney will crush their economy when coupled with Melbourne putting the best units of the Commonwealth on the sideline.
It takes a lot of force to do this pre June '42, like almost all of your free ID's and airgroups. BIG gamble, but BIG reward. If the allied players sees it coming soon enough, he can lay a big trap for you. BUT if he doesn't, oh baby! you can put a world of hurt on him.
Ditto taking Calcutta. Not quite the risk/reward size, but still a big deal. If you can take up to Bombay, sweet. Very, very few have been able to take Karachi/Delhi. If you do though, it almost guarantees a minor victory for IJ. Why? The amount of HI/LI => supply that you will garner will propel you into '44 with a huge economic stockpile. Think something like an extra 4M supply (not literally, but overall yes). That just translates into ARM/VEH/AC numbers that will keep the IJ from being overwhelmed.
Hi Pax, I really appreciate any thoughts you might have because i have learned a lot by reading your posts. I think Mike Solis AARs with yours and others comments are some of the best.
I just don't think i've got what it takes to push to Melbourne etc. I really don't have much PBEM experience and i have never ever played as the allies so i'm not sure of their OOB.
I am looking for someone to Co Op a game with as the allies as well
Hi LLT thanks for the idea. I'm afraid that i am still working and promised a turn a day to my opponents. I have barely enough time (AND BRAINPOWER) to keep that going.
Besides, i cant' multitask at all. No talking and driving for me. Typing while i talk on the phone... forget it. i'd never be able to play two games of WITP at once.
Digging in won't help you much, if there are empty Bases nearby. Allies just can grab them for free. But with control of the seas, you can bombard such landing to dust. You can also make it with Pago-Pago.
Take care in Australia, don't cross the-line-of-death.
In Burma push as far as you can, so enemy would have to reconquer more. Land somewhere behind Akyab, and trap his forces. I'm firm believer, that you can catch Allies in Burma trap: letting his large counterattacking forces into plains around Mandalay, and then surrounding them, and defeating.
Get ready to beat back Allies first counter-invasion. You won't have many chances, before parity in CVs. And get all those green dots! They are free intelligence for enemy!
Caveat:
Don't cross the line of death UNLESS you are going for both Melbourne and Sydney and have the assets in place to do it.
Taking Melbourne will net you a bunch of ARM factories and more importantly really hamstrings the OZ airforce the rest of the war. It isn't so much the model mix, but simply the numbers; losing Melbourne they simply will never have enough numbers to achieve much. Sydney will crush their economy when coupled with Melbourne putting the best units of the Commonwealth on the sideline.
It takes a lot of force to do this pre June '42, like almost all of your free ID's and airgroups. BIG gamble, but BIG reward. If the allied players sees it coming soon enough, he can lay a big trap for you. BUT if he doesn't, oh baby! you can put a world of hurt on him.
Ditto taking Calcutta. Not quite the risk/reward size, but still a big deal. If you can take up to Bombay, sweet. Very, very few have been able to take Karachi/Delhi. If you do though, it almost guarantees a minor victory for IJ. Why? The amount of HI/LI => supply that you will garner will propel you into '44 with a huge economic stockpile. Think something like an extra 4M supply (not literally, but overall yes). That just translates into ARM/VEH/AC numbers that will keep the IJ from being overwhelmed.
Hi Pax, I really appreciate any thoughts you might have because i have learned a lot by reading your posts. I think Mike Solis AARs with yours and others comments are some of the best.
I just don't think i've got what it takes to push to Melbourne etc. I really don't have much PBEM experience and i have never ever played as the allies so i'm not sure of their OOB.
Maybe someday.
Understood and don't disagree. Just wanted to be sure you took Inq's statements in correct context. He is correct, you don't want to trigger the reinforcements in Oz, India, or NA unless you are prepared for that consequence. If you are, there are some serious rewards to be reaped. If you aren't, you will the 'reaped'. [;)]
Okay, it's the end of the amphibious bonus. I feel like the tide is about to turn.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 01, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Lord Howe Island at 100,169
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1 This is getting serious. almost every other day now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Cairns at 92,140
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
CL Marblehead
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD John D. Edwards
DD Edsall
DD Bulmer
DD Barker
Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 10
Runway hits 24
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 2 I'm surprised a couple CLs can do that to my Zeros. I've got a small CV task force on its way to try to hit their retreat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Billiton at 53,92
Japanese Ships
TB Hato, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXVI
SS KXVI launches 2 torpedoes at TB Hato
KXVI bottoming out ....
Sub escapes detection that's the 4 or 5th TB ive lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Umnak Island at 169,52
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 damaged
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo I've got some old Mabels training with torpedoes when they spied a real target. Too bad they missed. Must have been shock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 77978 troops, 758 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 2599
Defending force 58002 troops, 417 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1537
Defending units:
7th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
31st Group Army
21st Group Army
3rd Group Army
2nd Group Army
7th New Chinese Corps This is really pissing me off. I should have pressed here really early. Now i'm beating my head against a wall.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 02, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lord Howe Island at 97,169
SS I-5 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Colorado
I-5 diving deep ....
DD Cushing fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lord Howe Island at 99,169
SS I-17 launches 6 torpedoes at BB Colorado
I-17 diving deep ....
DD Cushing fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Cushing fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shaw attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shaw cannot reach attack position over SS I-17
DD Shaw attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shaw cannot reach attack position over SS I-17
SS I-17 eludes DD Shaw by diving deep
DD Shaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lord Howe Island at 99,169
Japanese Ships
SS I-19
Allied Ships
xAKL Hamakua
CM Bungaree
AM Launceton
xAP Ormiston
xAP Merkur
xAP Lycaon
xAKL William McArthur
xAKL Lorinna
xAKL Darvel
DD Vampire
SS I-19 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Hamakua
I-19 diving deep ....
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-19 eludes ASW attack from DD Vampire
SS I-19 eludes DD Vampire by diving deep
SS I-19 eludes ASW attack from DD Vampire
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-19 eludes ASW attack from DD Vampire
SS I-19 eludes DD Vampire by diving deep
Escort abandons search for sub I managed to get a few subs in position with mixed results.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cairns , at 92,140
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (25 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
25 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead They managed to get some Wildcats over to Australia and up to sweep Cairns.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 99,169
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N1 Kate x 8
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 9
Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Ellet, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Cushing, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Benham
DD Shaw, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk I really wasn't too sure about running a small group of carriers at full speed intothis but I guess it was worth it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 99,169
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Benham, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cushing, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 100,169
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 99 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N1 Kate x 1
B5N2 Kate x 56
D3A1 Val x 39
Allied Ships
xAKL Darvel, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Australia, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Merkur, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CM Bungaree, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Chaumont, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Vampire
xAP Ormiston, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Launceton
xAP Bloemfontein, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Lycaon
xAKL Hamakua, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
881 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Man, luckily i got an afternoon attack too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Lord Howe Island (100,169)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
48 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Vampire
DD Voyager
xAP Malaita
CA Australia, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Here's the invasion. I really don't have much there
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lord Howe Island (100,169)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 402 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Defending force 458 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32
Assaulting units:
Bandasan SNLF
2nd Ind.AA Gun Co
1st Ind.AA Gun Co
25th Air Defense AA Regiment
8th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
2/3rd Ind Coy
49th Australian Bn /2
2/4th Ind Coy /1
2/5th Ind Coy /1
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1 Wow! Paras. And a lot of other troops.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lord Howe Island (100,169)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 458 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32
Defending force 1708 troops, 45 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Assaulting units:
2/3rd Ind Coy
2/4th Ind Coy /1
49th Australian Bn /2
2/5th Ind Coy /1
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1
Defending units:
Bandasan SNLF
1st Ind.AA Gun Co
2nd Ind.AA Gun Co
25th Air Defense AA Regiment
8th JNAF AF Unit You see. I don't have much. Should i bail? Retreat my carriers. Or really contest it? I've got a BB, 5CAs and a lot of DDs right there.
Depends, how big part of KB you have there, and what is the number of remaining sorties, and fuel.
It is two days sail from Australia, so probably not many enemy CVs, unless it is start of whole New Caledonia chain invasion. You can expect at least 200 fighters in Australia, but barely any anti-shipping planes, except unloaded from CVs.
I'd say - reinforce. It doesn't matter if Base is important. The only what matters is if you have substantial advantage. It will dwindle with time.
Oh, and forget Sinyang. Leave some blocking forces, and move remaining army elsewhere, to attack in clear terrain.
Hey, wait a minute! Those Mabels up at Adak were carrying torpedoes!
I don't have any Air HQs there. What is going on?
Does 5th Fleet HQ magically produce torpedoes?
Command HQ's will supply torps. 5th is one of your very few mobile COmmand HQ's. Use it wisely.
Thanks Pax. That's great news. I just received the 25th Air HQ and i was going to ship it to the aluetians. Now i can use it elsewhere.
That 5th Naval HQ has a range of 9. That's almost the whole aluetians. It doesn't show any torpedoes listed just naval support. How do those torpedoes work?
Depends, how big part of KB you have there, and what is the number of remaining sorties, and fuel.
It is two days sail from Australia, so probably not many enemy CVs, unless it is start of whole New Caledonia chain invasion. You can expect at least 200 fighters in Australia, but barely any anti-shipping planes, except unloaded from CVs.
I'd say - reinforce. It doesn't matter if Base is important. The only what matters is if you have substantial advantage. It will dwindle with time.
Oh, and forget Sinyang. Leave some blocking forces, and move remaining army elsewhere, to attack in clear terrain.
Hi inqistor, i've got all my other CVs on their way. The units they landed don't seem to be in good shape. I'll try to dislodge them and then see.
I'm just getting back in to wit-pae after awhile, and since I'm trying the Japanese side against the AI, reading a Japan player AAR might be a decent thought. So, not a whole lot to offer in terms of advice, as I'm just relearning a few things I (maybe) used to know. 
